Can We Inherit Alzheimer's From Our Parents?

Researchers believe various factors come into play in the development of Alzheimer's disease, reports Discover . Studies have increasingly found that genes are critical contributors in onset, although the disorder can appear at different stages in life. Scientists have found three genes where mutations can cause early-onset familial Alzheimer's. If just one parent carries one of the mutated genes, their child has a chance of inheriting it as well. Yet everyone with early-onset Alzheimer's has mutations in those genes. For the majority of people with Alzheimer's, symptoms begin to manifest round the age of 65 or later. Scientists suspect a combination of genetic and environmental variables influence a person's risk for developing the disease. This means having a relative with Alzheimer's does not necessarily guarantee inheritance, but the person does have a heightened susceptibility compared to others.